Photo by Phillip Goldsberry on Unsplash

I am an outspoken advocate that every first responder should see a therapist on a regular basis. Regular could be as little as monthly, quarterly, or even once or twice a year. It’s a lot easier to have a therapeutic relationship established than it is to try to search for one when you need it. Through my advocacy, many friends and co-workers have reached out to me for referrals to a therapist. Every once in a while I am asked if I can be their therapist. My friends and co-workers commonly don’t understand why I cannot ethically be their therapist. 

Therapists are bound by various ethical codes which prohibit dual relationships. The American Counseling Association Code of Ethics prohibits counselors from engaging in counseling services with “friends or family members with whom they have an inability to remain objective.” The first responder community is a small overlapping community with intimate bonds and camaraderie unlike other professions. Similar to living in a small tight-knit community, being a therapist for this population has its challenges regarding dual relationships. The simplest way to describe how I ethically keep my relationships within due bounds is determined by how we first met. Simply, if we were friends or co-workers first, we cannot work together in a therapeutic relationship. If we met in a therapeutic setting like individual therapy, group therapy, or similar retreat, this is what our relationship will continue to be.